Fishhook



Sept. 25, 1945 H. P. BIIRKEMEn-:R` 2,385,602

FISH HOOK l Filed May 51, 1943 Patented Sept. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT yOFFI CE, f;

FISHHooK Henry P. Birkenleier, Chicago, Ill.

Application May r31, 1943, Serial No. 489,105

1 7 Claims. (Cl. I3- 37) My invention relates tosh hooks of the multiple, relatively movable type and is more particularly concerned with an arrangement which provides substantial assurance that the fish is incapable of throwing the hook after striking.

Many attempts haveA been made toproduce a satisfactory, multiple hook structure in which one hook is arranged for movement relative to another hook, the relative movement being controlled by the pull of a iish or possibly a trip line. Generally speakingthese prior efforts may be grouped as follows: these structuresjin which alltof the hooks are taken by the sh and are then swung inwardly or outwardly, or rotated, .as the case may be, by the4 eiorts 'of the sh to break free, and those in which the Sh strikes a primary baited hook and releases an auxiliary hook which is' intended to be driven into thek body of the fish from an external position. In the former group, the hooks engage the mouth wall about the same distance inwardly of. the mouth and there is accordingly some uncertainty as'to whether the hooks will be firmly established or embedded, particularly with iish having tender mouths, while, in the second group, the ability of the auxiliary hook to eiectively snag the body yof the fish depends upon the latters position at the instant when the hook is released for movement.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide a multiple fish hook in which the hooks are simultaneously taken by the fish, with one hook arranged for a relative endwise and driven movement further into the interior of the fish.

A further object is to devise a fish hook having the characteristics indicated above which is easily set for use, is speedily and easily tripped for action by the fish, and does not require any change in fishing technique.

These and further objects of my invention will be set forth in the following specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and the novel means by which said objects are effectuated will be definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved multiple fish hook in set position.

Fig. 2 is a View of the device looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1 and showing, in dotted outline, the position temporarily assumed by the auxiliary hook when tripped.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing ther extended and final working position of the auxiliary hook.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates a primary hook having the usual barb A4II and shank I2 which terminates in an eye I3 Ifor attachment to a, line I4, `Ari auxiliary hook' I5 lies adjacent the h ook Ill and also 'includes a barb I S and a shank I1 which angles towards the shank I 2 and is provided with a loop I8 which extends around and in guiding relation tothe shank l2. The remainder of the shank l l, identified by the numeral I9, extends upwardly beside the shank I2 and its end is formedas a latch nger 2n whichprojects through and is heldin the eye I3 when the device isset by Vmeans ot a helical spring 2| which encircles the shank I2 Ibetween the loop I8 and eye I3, the spring being under compression in the set positiom While in Fig. 2, the hook I5 is` illustrated as extending slightly beyond the hook I0, their relative positions in this respect maybe adjusted as desired, although good results have been obtained with the arrangement shown, i. e., generally s i'de by side, The spacing of the hooks laterally may depend upon the size of the hooks employed, or the nature of the fish, or both, but it will be understood that, in any case, the spacing of the hooks is such as to permit grasping of both hooks by the fish. ,i

In using the device, both hooks may be baited in the usual manner and the hook I5 is set by inserting the finger 2U through the eye I3, thus placing the hooks in the full line positions illustrated in Fig. 2 and compressing the spring 2|. When the sh strikes, both hooks enter the shs mouth and the gripping action .causes the hook I5 to move towards the hook IIJ sufficiently to withdraw the linger 20 from the eye I3, whereupon the spring 2| drives the hook I5 further into the gullet of the iish and thus materially reduces the leverage which the iish can exert in trying to throw the hooks. The initial movement of the hook I5 is essentially of a pivoted nature due to the substantially pivotal connection between theV loop I8 and shank I2 and the endwise movement of the hook I5 is guided by the loop I8 sliding along the shank I2. The barb II prevents complete separation of the two hooks, although in actual shingit is likely that movement of the hook I5 would be stopped when the loop I8 reaches some point on the curved portion of the hook I0 short of the barb, unless the hook I5 has been firmly' embedded in the fish in some intermediate position. In any case, my improved fish hook insures a multi-piercing of the mouth and gullet wall of the iish in such spaced locations lengthwise of the sh as to definitely prevent attempts of the iish to throw or break loose from the hooks.

I claim: Y V1. A sh hook structure comprising a pair of normally juxtaposed hooks, the shank of one I hook being arranged for connection to a lineV Y and the other hook being releasably latched to and guidable on the shank, and spring means for effecting a substantially endwise movement of the pointed end portion of the other hook. beyond the line connected hook and further inwardly of the fish when unlatched.

2. A sh hook structure comprising a pair of normally juxtaposed hooks adapted to be 'grasped by a fish, the shank of one hook being arranged for connection to a line and the other hook being substantially pivotally connected to and guidable on the shank, means for latching the hooks in juxtaposed position and releasable when the hooks are relatively moved towards each otherv by the strike of a iish, and spring means for er"- fecting a substantially endwise movementrof the other hook inwardly of the iish when the latch 'means are released.

3,. A iish hook structure comprising a primary and an auxiliaryhook normally disposed side towards each other by the strike of a fish, and

spring means for eiecting a substantially end- Wise movement of the auxiliary hook inwardly of the iishwhen the ylatch means are released it A fish hook structure comprising Va primary and an auxiliary hook ,normally disposed side by side in spaced Vrelation andadapted to be grasped by a fish, theshank of the primary hook having Yan eye for connection to a-line and the other shank having a loop extending around the first named shank for substantially a pivotal and guiding connection therewith, aV latch Ylinger on said other shank extending through the eye to maintain the hooks in juxtaposed position and Y finger is withdrawn. Y 5. A sh hook structure comprising a primary and an auxiliary hook normally disposed side by side in spaced relation and adapted to be grasped `by a fish, the shank of the primary hook having an eye for connection to a line and the other shank having a loop extending Varound Vthe rst Vother shank extending through the eye to maintain the hooks in side by side relation and withdrawable when the hooksk are relatively moved towards each other by thestrke of a fish, and a helical spring encircling lthe primary shank between the eye and loop and loaded when the fingerextends through the eye. y Y

6. A sh'hook structure comprising a pair of normally juxtaposed hooks adapted to be simultaneously grasped by a fish, the shank of one hook being arranged for connection to a line and the other hook being arranged` for al driven, endwise movement relative to theri'lrst hook forembed-- ment Yfurther inwardly of the gulletof thelsh.

7. A fish hook structurecomprising a pair of normally juxtaposed hooks, the shank of onehook having an eye for connection to a line and' the other hook being releasably latched, in the eye and guidable on the shank` and spring means for effecting a substantially endwise movement of the other hook beyond Vthe line connected hook and further inwardly of the :fish when unlatched.

' HENRYy P. BIRKEMEIER. 

